Welcome back to the Brian Lear Show on WNYC.

I'm David First, WNYC's weekend edition, and this week in politics host, keeping the seat warm for Brian today. He will be back tomorrow.

And we were speaking with WNYC's Michael Hill just earlier about the possibility of Paul McCartney

adding a second show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City tonight. He played a surprise show yesterday

and fans flocked to the ballroom's box office upon hearing the news.

And sure enough, he is doing one again tonight.

And I can't even run away from the microphone to try to get tickets.

According to his website, that second show is already sold out.

So moving on, it is time to introduce our next guest.

The first few weeks of Donald Trump's presidency have brought on a barrage of executive orders,

and on Monday, Trump signs an executive order to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws,

with the near constant rolling back of Biden-era policies and questions about illegal orders that are being challenged in the courts,

reinstating plastic straws may seem like one of the least significant things that Trump has done,

but the order can be seen as emblematic of Trump's greater disregard for environmental protections.

According to the United Nations, every year the world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic.

Joining us now to break down the broader state of plastic pollution in the United States,

which with efforts from former President Joe Biden actually worked. And what the current

president could roll back is Judith Anck, founder of Beyond Plastics, professor at Bennington

College and former EPA Region 2 administrator. Judith, welcome back to WNYC.

Thanks so much, David. Great to be with you. And Judith, before we even move forward, let me make sure I'm saying your last name

correctly.

Is it Judith Ank? Am I doing justice? Perfect. Oh, fantastic. Thank you. You're hired. If you'd like to join this conversation, we may have time for a couple of phone calls. 212-433 WNYC, that's 212-433-9692.

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